What was the secret to Song Lam Nghe An's early survival in the V.League?

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Few would have thought that, before round 24, SLNA was in a truly alarming situation. A streak of four consecutive losses caused the team from Nghe An to lose their safe advantage in the relegation battle. The defeats against Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City Police, and Ninh Binh not only disappointed fans with the results but also raised concerns about the players' morale.

At that stage, what troubled coach Van Sy Son the most wasn't necessarily the technical aspects, but the unstable mentality of the entire team. As the season entered its final stages, many players began to have thoughts about their future, contracts, or their positions in the following season. This caused SLNA to show signs of losing the fighting spirit that was once the hallmark of the Nghe An team.

Recognizing the problem, coach Van Sy Son and his colleagues chose a very special approach. Instead of just focusing on training on the field, the coaching staff proactively reached out to each player to talk, confide in them, and resolve their psychological issues.

The coach, born in 1972, understands that for players to give their all, they must first have mental stability. That's why those private conversations took place before the crucial match against Becamex TP. HCM.

Following the victory at Go Dau Stadium, coach Van Sy Son shared: “When I took over as coach of SLNA, I noticed that all the players have potential. The most important thing is that the spirit of the Nghe An players is very good. The coaching staff's task is to understand what the players are lacking in order to help them improve. When given more confidence and motivation, the players will perform well.”

However, alongside gentle psychological approaches, Coach Van Sy Son is also ready to take strong measures to restore discipline in the locker room. The most typical example is the case of striker Dale Moore.

The Trinidad & Tobago striker was criticized for showing a lack of enthusiasm in the matches against Ho Chi Minh City Police and Ninh Binh. Furthermore, during training, he was deemed uncooperative with the coaching staff and for not maintaining the necessary professional attitude.

After numerous reminders and discussions that yielded no positive changes, coach Van Sy Son decided to remove Dale Moore from the squad for the match against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. This is seen as a firm message from the coach from Nghe An province during a period when the team needs the highest level of unity and fighting spirit.

The decision was initially surprising, as Dale Moore had been a key player in SLNA's attack. However, the reality showed that Coach Van Sy Son's firmness had a positive effect. The remaining players entered the match with a different level of determination and attitude compared to the previous series of matches.

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Before their away match at Go Dau Stadium, SLNA faced immense pressure as both SHB Da Nang and PVF-CAND had achieved positive results. A defeat against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City would put the Nghe An team at serious risk of being dragged back into a dangerous situation.

Therefore, the match in round 24 was seen as a "gamble" for coach Van Sy Son. The coach was forced to make bold adjustments in both tactics and personnel.

In the first half, SLNA played a defensive and physically demanding game. Players with high stamina like Forstes, Long Vũ, and Xuân Bình were used to create a highly contested game and slow down the home team's momentum.

Nevertheless, Becamex TP. HCM also created some dangerous opportunities. At times, the team from Binh Duong province threatened Cao Van Binh's goal with shots from Bui Vi Hao and Ho Tan Tai. But in a match where luck was on SLNA's side, the team from Nghe An province held firm.

The real turning point came in the second half when coach Van Sy Son made several personnel changes. He substituted Forstes and Long Vu, bringing in Karim Phi Long Tran and Tran Manh Quynh. These changes immediately proved effective.

Karim Phi Long's energetic play stretched Becamex TP. HCM's defense, while Mạnh Quỳnh created more opportunities with better ball control and passing on the right wing. It was from a build-up on the right flank that Michael Olaha delivered a sublime assist for Ngô Văn Lương to head in the only goal of the match.

That moment clearly showcased Coach Van Sy Son's tactical prowess. Not only did he read the game well, but he also demonstrated the ability to make appropriate adjustments at crucial moments.

After the match, the SLNA coach emotionally shared: “I feel very happy today. In the last 5 rounds, we only managed to get 1 point, and although we still had control of our own destiny, the whole team understood that we had to try our best in each match. Today, I am very grateful to the players for playing such a resilient game to win this important victory.”

The victory against Becamex TP. HCM was a well-deserved reward for the silent efforts of the SLNA coaching staff and players during the most difficult period of the season.

Iron discipline, decisive management of the dressing room, and timely psychological support helped coach Van Sy Son lead SLNA through turbulent times. And when the Nghe An team officially secured their safety two rounds early, it was the clearest evidence of the value of unity in football.

Duc Anh